Higher water costs coming to Menlo Park Higher water costs coming to Menlo Park (January 11, 2006)

** The proposed rate increases are tied to $4.3 billion Hetch Hetchy system revamp.

By Rory Brown

Almanac Staff Writer

Menlo Park homeowners and businesses whose water is supplied by the city are likely to pay more for their water to help cover the costs of rebuilding the Hetch Hetchy water system and constructing a $18 million reservoir to supply the city for at least eight hours if disaster strikes.

A study commissioned by the city recommends that the Menlo Park Municipal Water District increase water rates each year through 2015 by a total of 159 percent.

Under the proposal, for the one-third of Menlo Park getting water from the city's water district, the monthly rate for a typical single-family household would increase from $25.25 now to $65.46 by 2015.

The city's water system distributes water to the Sharon Heights area, the Civic Center, the Willows neighborhood, the Belle Haven community and the city's industrial area.

The other two-thirds of the city that gets water from California Water Service Co. will likely see increases, too, as its costs rise, but the amounts haven't been set yet.

A typical family getting Cal Water pays $54.24 a month. Cal Water can't change its rates in anticipation of cost increases, said Kent Steffens, the city's public works director.

Rate increases for Cal Water customers are made after nine months of public hearings, formal hearings and votes by the company's commission.

Both services get water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which plan $4.3 billion in improvements in the Hetch Hetchy system, including making the pipelines less vulnerable to earthquakes.

At its December 13 meeting, the City Council approved further study of water rates, and of using Seminary Oaks Park as a site for an $18 million water storage facility. The two-acre park is on Santa Monica Avenue, near St. Patrick's Seminary.

If the water rate plan is approved, customers of the city's water service would see monthly rates rise for typical households from the current $25.25 to $35.29 by 2009; $53.67 by 2012; and $65.46 by 2015.

City staff plans to meet over the next several months with large water users and homeowners associations within the city's water district to discuss the rate hikes.

A proposal for higher rates will come before the council in March, said Ruben Nino, the city's engineering services director.
Emergency reservoir

Palo Alto-based consultant Kennedy/Jenks, hired by the city in 2003 to study water-storage alternatives, determined Seminary Oaks Park to be the best site for an underground reservoir.

The size of that site would limit the reservoir's capacity to 3.4 million gallons, but because the property is owned by the city, the overall costs of the project would be lower than if the city had to acquire new land.

The council directed staff to further study the site as a possible reservoir, but also to consider constructing a well to hold groundwater -- a less reliable, but dramatically less expensive option. Mr. Steffens estimated the cost of constructing a well at $3 million to $4 million.
INFORMATION

To view the draft of the city's new urban water management plan, go online to menlopark.org. Under "Departments" select "Public Works," and scroll down to "Draft Urban Water Management Plan." The city is accepting comments on the draft plan through January 31. Submit comments to Patrick Stone, Menlo Park Engineering Division, 701 Laurel St., or to pjstone@menlopark.org.

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